HOUSTON – The University of Houston Athletics Department continually works to inspire excellence today while preparing leaders for life by fostering a culture which challenges student-athletes to achieve their highest academic, athletic and personal aspirations.

Academic achievements from the 344 scholarship student-athletes across Houston’s 16 varsity sports in the 2012 fall semester reflect that as the department recorded its highest ever fall semester grade point average, 2.92, and reached its highest overall cumulative GPA, 2.87, to date.

“While we hold our student-athletes to a high standard in their respective fields of competition, we hold them to even higher standards in the classroom,” said Mack Rhoades, Houston’s Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics. “We always stress the importance of education to prepare for challenges they may face as they evolve into community leaders following their collegiate careers.

"I am very proud of our student-athletes and coaching staffs as they continue to push the department to new academic heights. Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Development Maria Peden and her staff deserve credit for their tireless efforts with the academic performance of our student-athletes.”

In addition to the best GPAs in program history, a record 75 athletes were named to the University of Houston’s Dean’s List while the 13.9 hours passed per student in the fall semester also marked a UH best. Of the 344 student-athletes under scholarship at UH, 333, or 97 percent, are in good academic standing, also a department record.